Looking To Replace My Garmin Catalyst

[21GT500]

Hi there, I do 12-15 HPDE type events each year and have been using the Garmin Catalyst for a little over a year. It works great and the simplicity is pretty unmatched.... however, you can't hook up to the OBD port and you can't download the data and I'm getting to the point where deeper analysis will help me I think.

I'm just looking for recommendations for a good lap timer setup that works with Windows OS, supports OBD integration, provides data download and can be integrated with GoPro video. I've read about Harry's Lap Timer, Aim Solo, RaceBox Prod, etc but don't really know yet which will work best for me. Any opinions are appreciated.

 

[byronj]

I use AIM solo2. I use the smart cam to make it easier for me but I believe it’s easy to use GoPro with its also

 

[JP X]

Hi there, I do 12-15 HPDE type events each year and have been using the Garmin Catalyst for a little over a year. It works great and the simplicity is pretty unmatched.... however, you can't hook up to the OBD port and you can't download the data and I'm getting to the point where deeper analysis will help me I think.

I'm just looking for recommendations for a good lap timer setup that works with Windows OS, supports OBD integration, provides data download and can be integrated with GoPro video. I've read about Harry's Lap Timer, Aim Solo, RaceBox Prod, etc but don't really know yet which will work best for me. Any opinions are appreciated.

Frustration with inconsistent Harry’s Lap Timer performance (GoPro integration and also Bluetooth) is what drove me to the Catalyst. I had bought all the recommended pieces GPS, OBDII, GoPro. I wish I had either gotten Catalyst the first time or just go all the way for VBox. Never used VBox though, so I can’t provide review.

 

[biggsy]

If I had unlimited funds, then Vbox would be the answer given that is what a lot of teams use. I think @Black Boss also uses Vbox.

I have RaceCapture Track Mk3 from Autosport Labs. I am a fan of the pricing and the products they offer. The support and community are both great. It is a playground for those who are tech/software savvy. I can trigger auto recording to my GoPro based on any parameter I choose such as speed or RPM. They continue to have new products coming through the pipeline.

Autosport Labs – Technology for Race and Street

www.autosportlabs.com

 

[991GT]

I have been using SoloStorm (Petral Data) with RaceCapture for OBD inputs and GoPro for video. Both the RaceCapture and GoPro are integrated into SoloStorm for a "seamless" system. In reality the GoPro can be kind of problematic, although I'm still using an older GoPro 7 Black so perhaps some of the issues go away with a newer generation. SoloStorm gives you some similar function as the catalyst as far as sector optimization suggestions. You can set custom sectors, compare sectors over a number of laps you chose, see comparisons to sector parameters such as entry and exit speeds, average speed, distance, average throttle.
Petral has CircuitStorm which I assume has the same functionality and is free with adds. I've had SoloStorm for autocross and they added Time Attack track functionality to it.

Here is an example of the video output.

 

[PatientZero]

I demo'd the catalyst at a track day and wasn't sold on it. I've been using RaceChrono for years and see no reason to change.

 

[Jungle_Jim]

I demo'd the catalyst at a track day and wasn't sold on it. I've been using RaceChrono for years and see no reason to change.

I've been happy with RaceChrono (much more than HLT) for basic recording using the internal IMU/GPS on an old phone. For someone looking at a "cheap" option this is pretty great. It's not perfect but its ideal for getting some basic data and lap times. My only gripe is that it needs a wifi signal to "verify" the app so I have to teather to my phone on startup but after that it doesn't need anything.

That being said, I'm moving to a solo2 DL. I'd like to tap into the CANbus on my car and also was looking for a better GPS signal/rate. The ability to do that with RaceChrono via external GPS + bluetooth plug only comes out to about another ~$250-300 so it's still cheaper than the solo2DL. However, I'm also moving to the solo2 due to my familiarity with the AIM software. I have some MATLab code to do basic analysis and track overlays with my CSV exports now, but for me its come down to a time vs money thing. AIM's Race Studio already does everything better than i could code matlab to do so it's worth the investment.

 

[Stan Whitney]

Solo2 Dl seems like the reasonable next step. All the integration with CAN/sensors as needed.

 

[21GT500]

Hey everyone, thanks for the replies! I'm leaning toward that AIM Solo 2 DL unit but will do a bit more research.

 

[Jungle_Jim]

Few months ago I was looking for information on RaceStudio3 since the last time I used RS it didn't have a number associated with it This playlist i found helped give a bit of an overview on some of the different features on the AIM software. Just from some casual observing there's some great features they've added.

Race Studio Analysis 3 Tutorials

In early 2022, the new AiM Race Studio Analysis 3 was released in production for all AiM users. These tutorials will help guide you through how to use the so...

youtube.com

 

[steveespo]

Keep Garmin and run a Solo DL2/AiM Smarty Cam 3 combo. I know its added cost but the Garmin will give you that immediate feedback on what you are doing with video and data at the track. Plus if you are not, take advantage of the Garmin advanced coaching audio during the session, it gives good information on what you are doing corner by corner, plus a read out of laptime. Like a crew chief in your ear every lap. The AiM will provide the more traditional in depth data of both car and driver performance, but without a on site coach, its' very difficult to decipher and digest it at the track on your own. Just my experience. Search the different marketplaces as used equipment is for sale all the time, especially in the winter months.
Good luck with it.
Steve

 

[Nbjeeptj]

I use Garmin for lap time info and video and if I need Car data I will use my HP tuner data logger with track addict on my phone. In my Case I already had the HP tuner device for tuning the car so this was the more cost effective way to go. The Garmin is easier to use than the track addict is the reason I have it for my lap timer / video.

 

[PatientZero]

My only gripe is that it needs a wifi signal to "verify" the app so I have to teather to my phone on startup but after that it doesn't need anything.

I haven't run into that issue. I have it installed on an old phone that doesn't even have a sim card.

That being said, I'm moving to a solo2 DL. I'd like to tap into the CANbus on my car and also was looking for a better GPS signal/rate. The ability to do that with RaceChrono via external GPS + bluetooth plug only comes out to about another ~$250-300 so it's still cheaper than the solo2DL.

I use a Garmin GLO for my GPS tethered with the Racechrono, only ~$100 last I checked.

Here are a couple videos running the Racechrono with a Garmin GLO and 2 Go-Pro's for anyone not aware of the capabilities. You can also tap into OBDII information but my car doesn't have an OBDII port.

 

[Jungle_Jim]

I haven't run into that issue. I have it installed on an old phone that doesn't even have a sim card.




I use a Garmin GLO for my GPS tethered with the Racechrono, only ~$100 last I checked.

Here are a couple videos running the Racechrono with a Garmin GLO and 2 Go-Pro's for anyone not aware of the capabilities. You can also tap into OBDII information but my car doesn't have an OBDII port.

Yeah, there are certainly options out there to increase the functionality of RaceChrono for less than the ~$250-300 I estimated and I still like it as an option! It's just that was already looking at something that was more than the "entry capability" it offers even with updated external inputs. For example, with RaceChrono in order to do any in-depth analysis beyond just pasting data over a video, I'd still have to use matlab or excel. All things I'm capable of, its just like I said in the previous post, time vs money to achieve that integration.

To expand on my initial post a bit for the cost, I was looking at the Racebox Mini S to match the 25Hz GPS of the Solo. The Mini at 10Hz would still be an upgrade compared to what the internal GPS can do (at 1Hz). Also, the Dual XGPS was another option i looked at but is similarly priced (~approx $180-200) to the racebox mini. I too don't have OBD2 on my vehicle (silly 60's technology ) but it does have a wired canbus. So I could maybe get one of the OBD2 BT adapters and make it work or pay more for a plain canbus BT adapter but regardless it's still another at least ~$60 in the cost. It sounds like RaceChrono has an OK time linking with external devices but it's also always another potential point of failure and another device to keep track of.

With respect to the more in depth analysis, math channels for estimating slip angle, plot delta-time overlays on a lap-position basis, estimate lift/coast parameters, etc. are all nice and would all have to be done externally to the race chrono app. Last i searched around on the RaceChrono forum it sounds like the functionality for math channels is there, just nothing for the user interface yet. Again, all the above are things i can do with matlab given time, but it's just time I don't have. One last slight limitation with RaceChrono (that I may have missed) is that I didn't see a native option to transform the IMU orientation / accelerations either. I noticed they usually were ever-slightly off and I had seen some other users note the same thing (at a higher degree) when using an external IMU if the orientation isn't perfect. That's actually what started me with my matlab scripts, doing the rest of the actual plotting parts was easy.

 

[Dave_W]

The AiM stuff can get pretty expensive, but it all integrates easily. The SmartyCam is expensive compared to a GoPro, but it connects to a Solo DL, Evo 4S, or other AiM logger and writes timecode into the video file that automatically syncs to your data in Race Studio Analyzer. Not sure about the Solo DL, but with the Evo 4S you can upload real-time math channels into it that get logged and/or can drive outputs.

There's a wealth of tutorial videos on YouTube for AiM products. Take a look at this one for what the SmartyCam integration gets you in analysis (you can skip the file import stuff in the beginning). Pay attention to how the video stays sync'ed when scrubbing the marker in the data channel display or the track map. (AiM has a big database of track maps you can download, or you can use your GPS lap data to create a new track.)